The Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development – Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD- VCDP), on Tuesday, began distribution of agricultural inputs to rice and cassava farmers in Nasarawa.
Dr Eunice Adgidzi, state coordination of VCDP in Nasarawa, at the flag off on Tuesday in Lafia, said the distribution of the
agricultural inputs was in furtherance of the VCDP commitment to strengthening rice and cassava value chains in the state.
Adgidzi added that the exercise would also help to improve the livelihood of smallholder rice and cassava farmers on a sustainable basis in Nasarawa.
She listed the items to be distributed to include 92 irrigation pumps, 40 solar-powered knapsack sprayers, four power tillers and eight tricycles.
Others are eight cassava processing equipment, including grinding machines, communal fryers, hydraulic pressers, cassava chipping machine as well as stainless steel rice steam per boilers.
The coordinator noted that the programme had sustained its intervention through the distribution of inputs in the state since July 2020.
She commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his support to agriculture, adding that the commitment was gradually making Nasarawa a hub for agricultural excellence.
Adgidzi urged the farmers to make judicious use of the items to boost agricultural production.
“While VCDP has done its part, farmers must also do their part to enable us to achieve the desired success.
“We are all counting on you to effectively utilise these equipment in order to boost production and processing of rice and cassava in the state,” she said.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Umar Dan-Akano, lauded the VCDP’s intervention in the state.
Dan-Akano, represented by the Director, Agriculture Engineering Services, Solomon Umbundaga, said the programme had greatly improved the livelihood of smallholder farmers in the state.
He encouraged the benefiting farmers to continue to leverage the opportunity to boost food production in the state.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Emmanuel Alanana, Programme Manager, Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP),
said that Nasarawa government had always prioritised the agricultural sector.
He urged farmers to always take advantage of the various programmes to enhance production.
Alanana maintained that Nasarawa State used to be a leading producer in cassava and rice, and called for its sustenance.
He charged the beneficiaries of the item to make good use of them.
“We have the land and the population and there is no need for us to go hungry in Nasarawa State.
” We shouldn’t rely only on rain-fed farming given our potentials for dry season crop production.
“So, I appeal to all farmers in the state to take advantage of available opportunities, especially with the passion of the present administration in agriculture,” he said.
Some of the beneficiaries, Haladu Abubakar and Margaret Ogah, thanked the VCDP for the intervention, saying it would go a long way to boasting their farm produce.
